Storm-Battered Statue Of Liberty Reopens Just In Time For July 4th, Immigration Debate

The Statue of Liberty reopened to visitors just in time for July 4th, after Hurricane Sandy battered the historic site last fall.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, and Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell were on hand for a ceremony celebrating the newly restored visitor site.

Last year’s historic hurricane—which caused billions of dollars of damage along the east coast’s seaside communities—largely spared the iron monument itself, but destroyed much of the surrounding park’s bridges, walkways, and electrical systems. Together with damage at nearby Ellis Island, the estimated cost of repairs was $59 million.

The Statue’s crown had already been closed for renovations, and had just reopened when Sandy struck.

A gift from the French in 1886 and a stalwart symbol of America’s unique acceptance of immigrants, the Statue immediately made an awkward return into the troubled waters of the immigration debate:

Meanwhile, Lizz Winstead noted the irony of the female statue reopening just in time to watch several states of her adopted country strip women’s rights:

[h/t MSNBC]

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